Apparatus for driving piles under water.



No. 863,614. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907;

S. LAKE. I

APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES UNDER WATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1901.

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PATBNTED AUG. 20, 1907.

SLLAKEQ APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES UNDER WATER.

APrLIcATmN FILED MAR. 22.1907.

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No. 863,614. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. S. LAKE. APPARATUS FOR DRIVINGPILES UNDER WATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1907- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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N0. 863,614. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. Sp APPARATUS FOR DRIVING FILESUNDER WATER.

APPLICATION nun MAB. 22,190

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UNITED STATES SIMON LAKE, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES UNDER WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed March 22,1907. Serial No. 363,944.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, atpresent residing at 23 Friedrich Wilhelm strasse, Berlin, Germany, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Driving PilesUnder Water, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of this invention is to provide a pile driver particularlyadapted for use in driving piles in comparatively deep waters or in thepresence of heavy currents, for use in connection with the building offoundations for piers, lighthouses, breakwaters and various othersubaqucous constructions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whereby thepiles may be easily handled, guided, and driven in place, the upper orprotruding ends cut off, when necessary, so that the upper ends of thepiles will be in substantially the same horizontal plane, and thedelivery of the severed ends to the surface of the water, where they maybe easily removed.

A further object is to provide, a device capable of ready adjustment sothat the piles may be driven at any particular place relative to theadjacent pile or piles.

Another object is to provide an arrangement that will act as a guide incutting the piles at any particular point and to support and steady thedevice as a whole when the piles are being set or otherwise operatedupon.

With these objects in view, the invention comprises certain combinationsand arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is asectional elevation illustrating a practical application of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation, on a larger scale,of a portion of the working chamber, illustrating the means foroperating the saw-blade and shoe carried by the guide tube; the saidtube being shown only in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partlyin section, drawn on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail verticalsection drawn on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation ofthe saw-operating mechanism looking from the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a vertical section drawn through the upper end of the guide tube andmovable housing that is normally held upon the upper end of the tube,and Fig. 7 is a detail plan of the same.

A designates a surface vessel, such as a barge, scow or other structure,constructed with a well A, extending nearly the entire length of thevessel. B is a semi-submcrgible vessel held at one end in one end of thewell A by yielding supports, not shown. The lower end of the vessel B isconstructed with a working compartment or chamber B, that forms aworking space for an operfor.

adjacent to the water-bed when the device is in operation.

Secured to one side of the working chamber and extending therethrough isa hub 13*, Figs. 3 and 4, the greater portion of whose length extendswithin the working chamber, and journaled in the hub is a hollowtrunnion or spindle C, having a partition C to prevent ingress of waterto the working chamber. The trunnion is provided with a post O and alsowith a central peripheral flange G which bears against the side of theworking chamber, and at its outer end is a flange C to provide aconnection for a guide tube D, adapted for the reception and guidance ofthe piles to be driven. Connected to the lower end of the tube D is abracket D, in which is j ournaled the lower end of a hollow shaft E, theupper end of which extends through the lower side of the trunnion andcarries a beveled gear E, which meshes with a similar gear E held uponthe outer end of a shaft E extending longitudinally through the trunnionand journaled at one end in the partition C", and at its opposite end inthe post C To the extreme inner end of the shaft is connected a beveledgear E", meshing with a pinion F, held upon the shaft F of an electricmotor F, the current wires to which extend from a dynamo (not shown) onthe surface vessel.

The motor F and its shaft F are supported within the working chamber bya bracket F preferably secured to and extending from the vertical wallof the said chamber, and this bracket is connected to the hub B andforms a support therefor.

The lower end of the hollow shaft E carries a beveled gear E (shown mostclearly in Fig. 2) meshing with a pinion G on the inner end of a shaftG, whose opposite end carries a worm G meshing with a worm wheel H on ashort shaft G journaled in a bracket arm 1, extending from and held fastto the lower end of a spindle J that extends through the hollow shaft Eand projects beyond the lower endthereof.

The shaft of the worm wheel H carries a circular saw-blade H, and thesaid blade, shaft G, gear E and pinion G are all covered by a suitablecasing K, to protect them from rocks and mud of the water-bed. The shaftG is journaled in bearings formed in the casing.

To the upper end of the spindle J is secured a worm- 100 wheel I,meshing with a worm J carried by a shaft J extending longitudinally inthe trunnion or spindle and journaled in suitable supports providedthere- The said shaft extends through the partition (3, and to itsextreme inner end is connected a crank handle P, by which the shaft ismanually operated, and it will be readily understood that when the crankis revolved, motion will be imparted to the spindle and the saw movedtowards, or away from, the pile held within the guide tube.

The saw-blade is arranged some distance below the lower end of the guidetube, so that it may be worked freely across the lower end of the saidtube.

The bracket D, is formed with an extension D which terminates at itsouter end in a T head D which fits and travels within a segmental'guideor race-way D secured upon the side of the casing and acts as a brace tosteady the movement of the guide tube when the latter is adjusted, as isnecessary when the semi-submergible tube B is raised or lowered, as,

for instance, when piles are driven in different depths of water andalso when the tube B is shifted by the movement of the surfacevessel-through the action of the tide.

L, designates a shoe adj ustably supported in brackets L, held upon oneside, and at the lower end of the guide tube D, the said shoe beingadjusted vertically within the guides by a threaded spindle L journaledat its lower end'in an extension of the bracket D, and at its oppositeend in a lateral extension formed at the outer end of the hollowtrunnion or spindle G.

The spindle L works through a threaded aperture in pile or piles whenthe succeeding pile is being driven.

or otherwise operated upon, and acts as a support for thesemi-submergible vessel and guide tube, and also as a guide tofacilitate the sawing off of the piles on a horizontal line. It will beapparent that by raising or lowering the shoe the piles may be cut offat different heights or distances from the bed of tll0 Wtl;0l'.

The guide tube D, extends upwardly from the working end or chamber ofthe semi-submergible vessel in a vertical line above the surface of thewater, and works freely within the well of the surface vessel. Anysuitable guide rods or supports may be employed for holding the tube inthis position.

To the upper end of the tube is secured, by brackets N, a workingplatform N, from which projects vertically, a pintle N upon which isjournaled a housing 0, that is designed to swing horizontally upon thepintle into and out of alinement with the guide tube D. The housing ismoved to either position by a pinion I, held upon a shaft P, journaledto the side of the housing, and which engages a segmental rack P securedto the floor of the platform. A hand wheel P is connected to the upperend of the shaft by which the shaft and pinion are revolved, therevolution of the shaft in one direction or the other, causing the freeend of the housing to be swung into posi tion upon the tube, or awayfrom the tube, as desired.

The housing is made air tight, and at its lower end is provided with aflanged ring 0, having a suitable packing 0 which engages the upper endof the tube and forms an air tight joint when in position upon the tube.The flanged ring 0, is provided with an extension 0 which engages akeeper 0, extending from the platform, and serves as a lock to hold thehousing firmly in position upon the tube.

Air supply pipes P are connected to the housing and extend from suitablepumps (not shown) located upon the surface vessel.

Within the housing is held a bracket Q, carrying a pulley Q, theperiphery of which is in vertical alinement with the center of the guidetube when the housing is in position upon the tube, and operating overthe pulley is a cable Q carrying at one end a drop hammer Q and havingits opposite end wound upon a drum R, held upon a shaft R, journaled inan extension of the housing. One end of the shaft extends through oneside of the housing and also through a stuffing box surrounding theshaft, and loosely held upon the inner surface of the extended end isone member S, of a friction clutch S. The opposite member, or section Sof the clutch is keyed upon the outer end of the shaft and movable intoand out of engagement with the member S, by a hand lever S in the usualway. The periphery of the member S, is provided with gear teeth, meshingwith a pinion T, held upon a shaft T, of an electric motor T, which issupported by brackets T extending from the side of the housing, andmoves therewith. This motor, like the motor F, is connected by currentwires with a dynamo (not shown) on the surface vessel.

The housing is provided with a hatch and covering U, by which access maybe had thereto.

A spur V, is connected to the lower side of the working chamber, whichis designed to penetrate the water bed and hold the lower end of thesemi-submergible vessel in position, and prevents its accidentalmovement, which might be caused by the buffeting of the surface vesselby the sea.

In operation, the semi-submergible vessel with the guide tube is loweredinto the water at the point at which the piles are to be driven, and isfirst supported at a proper distance from the waterbed by'a cable W,extending from the surface vessel and connected to the lower end orworking chamber of the semi-submergible vessel. The housing is thenswung clear of the guide tube D, and a pile lowered into the tube by asuitable crane or derrick, a portion of which is illustrated at W inFig. 1 of the drawings. The housing is then adjusted in position uponthe tube forming an air-tight compartment. Air is then admitted throughthe pipes P", which drives the water out of the tube and allows the pileto drop down against the water-bed into which it penetrates by reason ofits own weight. It will, of course, be understood that during thisoperation the drop hammer is held in an elevated position, butimmediately after the pile has been lowered the drop hammer isalternately lowered and raised by operating the clutch S, which rapidlydrives the pile into position. It will be seen that the hammer operatesfreely in the air within the tube and is not hampered or impeded in itswork by water.

When the pile has been driven to the proper point the tube and workingchamber B are raised to the proper height by the cable W, the saw-bladeis then set in motion and thrown into engagement with the upper end ofthe pile (through the medium of the crank handle J and parts operatedthereby), and the upper end of the pile will be quickly sawed off. Thehousing is then swung clear of the guide tube, which releases the airpressure and by the in-rushing waters the severed end of the pile isbrought up to the top of the tube, where it may be easily removed.

The semi-submergible vessel and guide tube are then shifted to adjustthe lower end of the tube to the point where the next pile is to bedriven, and in this position the shoe L, is allowed to rest upon thepile previously driven, and acts as a guide and support for thesemi-submergible vessel and guide tube. The operations of placing thesuccessive piles driving them and cutting off and removing their endsare carried on in the manner previously described, until the work iscomplete. 7

It will be seen that the shoe not only acts as a support but also as aguide to regulate the cutting off of the piles, and when it is desiredto cut all the piles upon a horizontal line, the shoe is adjusted sothat its lower surface will be on a horizontal line with the saw-blade,which avoids further adjustment of the parts when the subsequent pile isto be sawed off.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by use of my device theoperation of setting and driving the piles can be rapidly and easilyaccomplished. v

In practice I propose to make the guide tube in sections to adapt it tovarying depths of water, and I also may employ a float or other form ofbuoyant, as shown at X in Fig. 1 oi the drawing to assist in sustainingthe tube in a vertical position, the said float being attached to thetube in any suitable manner. When the surface vessel is transported toany considerable distance the semi-submergible vessel B is raised andallowed to rest within the well of the surface vessel, in which positionthe guide tube D will be swung upon its pivot or trunnion to ahorizontal position with respect to the semisubmergible vessel to whichit might be secured in any suitable manner, or it may be held in asuspended position within the well of the surface vessel.

Claims.

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a guide tube, a housingdetachably connected thereto, a drop hammer supported within the housingand operable within the tube, and means for controlling the movement ofthe hammer.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a guide tube, a housingdetachably connected thereto and forming an air tight compartment at theupper end of the tube when in position thereon, and which communicateswith the tribe, a drop hammer supported within the housing and operablewithin the tube, means controlling the operation of the hammer, andcompressed air pipes connected to the housing.

5%. Apparatus for driving piles under water, having a tube for placingthe piles, an air-tight housing, means to move said housing into and outof communication with said tube, said housing having an air-tightconnection with the tube when in position thereon, a drop hammersupported within the housing and operable within the tube. means forlifting and releasing the hammer, and compressed air supply pipesconnected to the housing.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising a guide tube, an air tighthousing journaled at the upper end of the tube and adapted forconnection therewith, said hous ing having an air tight connection withthe tube when in position thereon, air supply pipes connected to thehousing, means for moving the housing into and out of position upon thetube, a drop hammer supported within the lionsing and operable withinthe tube, means for lifting the hammer and also means for releasing thelifting means to permit the hammer to drop.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a guide tube, a platformconnected thereto, an air tight housing pivotally held upon the platformand adapted for connection with the tube, means for shifting theposition of the housing, a drop hammer supported within the housing andoperable within the tube when the said housing is in position thereon,means for lifting the said drop hammer and also means for releasing thehammer.

(i. A device of the kind described, comprising a guide tube. a platformconnected thereto at its upper end, and having an air tight housingpivotally supported thereon which is adapted for engagement with theguide tube, a drop hammer supported within the housing and operablewithin the tube, a segmental rack connected to the platform, a shaftjournaled to the housing. said shaft having a pinion at one end forengagement with the rack and a hand wheel at the opposite end.

7. A device of the kind described. comprising a guide tube. a platformconnected thereto, an air tight housing .pivotally supported upon theplatform and adapted to be positioned upon the tube, means for shiftingthe position of the housing into and out of engagement with the saidtube, a pulley supported within the housing. a lifting drum journaledwithin the housing and having a cable wound thereon which operates overthe said pulley, and having a drop hammer or weight at its free endwhich operates within ,the tube, a motor opcratively connected to thedrum, and a clutch interposed in the connection and operated asspecified.

8. Apparatus for driving piles under water, having a guide tube forplacing the piles, a platform supported by the tube at its upper end, apintle projecting from said platform. an air-tight housing mounted uponthe pintle and adapted to be moved into and out of alincment with thesaid tube, said housing having a packing ring which engages the end ofthe tube to provide an air-tight joint, a rack carried by the platform,a shaft journaled in the housing and having a pinion for engagement withthe rack whereby said housing may be shifted into and out of positionwith relation to the tube, air supply pipes connected to the housing fordisplacing water from the tube. a drop hammer operable within the tube.a cable connected to the drop hammer, a drum around which the cable iswound. a motor opcratively connected to the drum, and means interposedin the connection for releasing the drum to permit the hammer to dropwithin the tube.

9, A device of the kind described, comprising a semi submergible vessel,a guide tube pivotally connected thereto. a housing held adjacent thetube and detachably connected therewith, and a drop hammer supported inthe.

housing and operable within the tube when the said hous ing is inposition thereon.

10. A device of the kind described, comprising a semi submergible vesselhaving a trunnion journaled therein and extending therefrom, a guidetube secured to the trunnion and projecting upwardly therefrom in avertical position, a housing held adjacent the upper end of the tube andmovable into and out of position therewith. means controlling the saidmovement, and a drop hammer supported within the housing and operablewithin the tube.

11. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vessel,a guide tube pivotally connected thereto and adapted for holding andguiding a pile to be driven, a housing arranged at the upper end of thetube. a drop hammer carried by the housing for driving the pile, a sawheld adjacent to the lower end of the tube, means for revolving the saw,and also means for moving the saw into engagement with the pile and forreturning the saw to its normal position.

12. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vessel,a guide tube pivotally connected there to and adapted for holding andguiding a pile, a housing arranged adjacent to the upper end of the tubeand adapted to he moved into engagement therewith, a drop hammer carriedby the housing and operable within the tube for driving the pile, a sawblade held adjacent to the lower end of the tube for engagement with thepile, and a guide shoe carried by and adjacent to the lower end of thetube, all for the purpose specified.

13. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vessel,a guide tube pivotally connected thereto and extending upwardlytherefrom. said tube being adapted to hold and guide a pile, an airtight housing supported by and at the upper end of the tube, saidlionsing being adapted for movement into and out of engagement with thetube. and forming when in engagement therewith an air tight compartment,compressed air supply pipes connected to the housing, a drop hammercarried by the housing and operable within the tube, means controllingthe movement of the hammer. a' saw blade arranged adjacent to the lowerend of the tube and adapted for eng- *ement with the pile, a guide shoeadjustably carried by, and at the lower end of the tube, and. means forraising and lowering the shoe.

1%. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vessel.a guide tube pivotally connected thereto. a platform arranged at theupper end of the tube. an air tight housing pivotally supported by theplatform. means for moving the housing into position upon the tube. .awinding drum and pulley arranged within the housing. a cable wound uponthe drum and operating over the pulley and having a drop hammer at itsfree end, means car ried by the housing for revolving the drum toelevate the hammer and also means for releasing the drum to permit thehammer to drop. and a guide shoe adjustably supported by and at thelower end of the tube. and means for adjusting the said shoe.

1:"). A device of the kind described. comprising a semisubmergiblevessel, a guide tube pivotally connected thereto, a platform arranged atthe upper end of the tube and connected therewith. an air tight housingmounted upon the platform, a winding drum and pulley journaled withinthe housing, a clutch carried upon the shaft of the drum, said clutchhaving one section provided with gear teeth, a motor supported upon abracket extending from the housing and having its shaft provided with apinion which engages the said gear teeth, a lever connected to theclutch, a guide shoe adjustably held at the lower end of the tube, and asaw'blade also arranged adjacent to the lower end oithe tube and meansfor moving the blade into engagement with the pile and also means foroperating the blade.

17. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vessel,a guide tube for holding a pile and pivotally connected-to said vessel,:1 housing supported by and at the upper end of the tube and having adrop hammer which is operable within the tube, a sa\vblade arrangedadjacent to the lower end of the tube, means controlled within the saidvessel for operating the blade, and also means controlled within thevessel for moving the blade into engagement with the pile, and a guideshoe arranged at and cairied by the lower end of the tube, and meansoperable from within the vessel for adjusting the shoe.

18. A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergible vesselhaving a hollow trunnion revolubly held thereto, a guide tube forholding and guiding a pile and connected to the trunnion, a guide orraceway arranged upon the semi-submergible vessel, a bracket having ajournal bearing connected to the guide tube, said bracket also having ahead which operates in the said guide or race-way, a hollow shaftjournaled in the bearing of the b'acket and extending into the trunnionand having its upper end provided with a gear, a shaft journalcd in thetrunnion and having a gear at its outer end for engagement with the gearof the said hollow shaft, and a gear at its inner end, a motor heldwithin the vessel and having its shaft provided with a pinion whichmeshes with the last mentioned gear, a spindle held within the hollowshaft and having a bracket at its lower end, a shaft journaled in thebracket and carrying a saw-blade, a casing surrounding the saw and thegear at the lower end of the spindle, a shaft supported by the casingand having a gear at one end which meshes withthe gear at the lower endof the spindle and a Worm at its opposite end which engages with a wormwheel of the saw-shaft, and means for turning the spindle to adjust thesaw into the path of the guide tube for engagement with the pile.

1.). A device of the kind described, comprising a semisubmergibleVessel, a trunnion journaled in the vessel and projecting therefrom, aguide tube secured to the trunnion, said tube being adapted for holdingand guiding a pile to be driven, a housing supported by and at the upperend of the tube, a drop hammer supported within the housing and operablewithin the tube, a guide shoe adjustably connected to the lower end ofthe tube, an arm extending from the shoe and having a threaded bore, athreaded spindle operating through the bore and journaled at its lowerend in a bracket carried by the tube and in the trunnion at its upperend, a worm wheel arranged upon the upper end of the spindle and a shaftjournaled in the trunnion and having a worm at one end which meshes withthe said worm wheel and having its opposite end squared to receive acrank handle for the purpose specified.

20. A device of the kind described, comprising a semi subn iergiblevessel whose lower end terminates in a working chamber, a spindlejournaled in the side of the chamber, a guide tube connected to theouter end of the spindle and adapted for holding and guiding a pile tobe driven, a housing supported at the upper end of the tube and having adrop hammer operable within the tube, a bracket secured to thelower endof the tube, a hollow shaft journaled in the bracket and having gears ateach end, a shaft having a gear meshing with the gear at the upper endof the hollow shaft and means for operating the said shaft, :1 spindlehaving a bracket arm at its lower end, a shaft journaled in the arm andhaving a saw-blade and worm wheel, a shaft having a pinion at one endwhich meshes with the pinion upon the lower end of the hollow shaft, anda worm which meshes with the worm gear of the saw shaft, a worm wheelheld upon the upper end of the spindle, a shaft journalcd in thetrunnion and having a worm at one end which engages with the said wormwheel and having its opposite end squared to receive a crank handle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of MarchA. D. 1907.

SIMON LAKE.

Witnesses M. D. BLONDEL, HENRY HASPER.

